A Romney-Kerry Rivalry? Not the Stuff Dreams Are Made Of.

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) put some distance yesterday between himself and the Bush administration on the issue of health care, criticizing the White House for failing to demand significant reforms in Medicare and Medicaid when Congress enacted a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens.

With an eye on a 2008 presidential campaign, Romney spent an hour over lunch with reporters in Washington talking about his evolution on the issue of abortion (from once eschewing labels to now calling himself "pro-life"), whether his Mormon religion will hurt him if he runs for president (only with a tiny percentage of the electorate, he said), his management style (heavy on analysis) and health care for all citizens, which is a top priority of his back home.

The new prescription drug plan has gotten off to a rocky start, with many states having to step in to pay for drugs for seniors who have been denied coverage because of bureaucratic bungling. Romney said the benefit is well deserved -- but so is the criticism. His complaint is that the administration created a new and costly entitlement program without exacting changes aimed at holding down costs.

"I would have hoped to do it differently," he said at the media gathering, sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. "I would have hoped to include within the additional prescription benefit certain reforms to Medicaid, Medicare and our entire health care system to be able to pay for a very helpful prescription benefit. . . . It's a new entitlement program, and I would have wanted to finance that entitlement with reforms and changes and adjustments in the overall program."

Romney also dealt with some Washington controversies. On the debate over President Bush's warrantless surveillance program: "I expect the president to live by the law, and I presume he has." On whether the lobbying scandal will damage Republicans in November: "The idea that money has influence on politics is not a headline story in major parts of the country."

Toward the end he was asked about 2008, Iraq, and the possibility that he and Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) might end up as rivals. "Do you fantasize about that?" he was asked.

"Not about that, no," he replied to laughter. Referring to his wife, he said: "I told Ann that I was coming here to speak to you today, and I said 'Sweetheart, in your wildest dreams, did you ever see me coming here and speaking to this group?' and she said 'Mitt, you weren't in my wildest dreams.' " That sounded like a line GOP audiences are likely to hear repeatedly over the next few years.

Ney Doesn't Shy From Reelection Bid

If there was any doubt that Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) would allow certain inconvenient subjects in the news to force him from a reelection bid, it is over: He made a formal announcement last night in Dover, Ohio. He is expected to make a similar pronouncement today in Chillicothe -- not coincidentally, the home town of his likely Democratic foe in November.

"2006 promises to be a vigorous campaign, and I am ready for the fight," Ney told a local newspaper Wednesday.

He will almost certainly get it, given the barrage of recent disclosures that federal prosecutors are targeting Ney for his suspected role in doing favors for disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for lavish trips and campaign contributions.

In Abramoff's plea agreement, Ney was the lone member of Congress mentioned. Ney has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He temporarily stepped aside as chairman of the House Administration Committee earlier this month at the urging of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). Despite the Republican tilt of Ney's sprawling east-central 18th District, Democrats believe his Abramoff woes have handed them a golden takeover opportunity. Chillicothe Mayor Joseph P. Sulzer and lawyer Zack Space are seeking the Democratic nomination and will face off in May 2 primary.

Candidate Fires Staffer for Comment

Foot-in-mouth disease has claimed another victim -- this time in Pennsylvania's Republican gubernatorial primary.

Former lieutenant governor Bill Scranton (R) fired his campaign manager Wednesday after the man accused former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann (R), who is black, of being the "rich white guy" in the race.

Scranton said the remarks by James Seif "in no way whatsoever reflect my views or those of my campaign." Both Scranton and Seif are white.

Public polling shows Swann, a Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Black and Yellow from 1974 to 1983, with a lead over Scranton in the primary. Swann is also running even or ahead of Gov. Edward G. Rendell (D). If elected, Swann would be the Pennsylvania's first black governor.